Celebrating 175 Years of History
By Wayne Allen
An estimated 300 members and friends of the Community of Christ gathered on March 27 in Kirtland, Ohio for the 175th anniversary of dedication of the Kirtland Temple. The keynote speaker for the service was Community Of Christ President Steve Veazey who spoke about the importance of paying proper attention to our past of a denomination.
At the beginning of his address Veasy quoted several scriptures and quoted from a book called ‘Crow and the Weasel’ by Barry Lopez.
“The stories that people tell have a way of taking care of people. If stories come to you care for them, and learn to give them away, where they are most needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive.”
Veazey said growing up the story of the Kirtland Temple spiritually cared for him long before he was able to visit the site.
“I’ve visited the Kirtland Temple many times, each time this time and space and story, including this weeke
nd intersect and interacted in my heart and mind and draws me ever more deeply into Gods presents and redemptive work in the world,” Veasy said. “The place, the space and the story continues to shape my understanding of the ways Gods spirit, the churches identity, its understanding of mission and the message that we are called to share with the world.”“In today’s incrensly seceptal, secular world the Kirtland Temple story calls us to deeper communion and experience with the spirit. A communion for which our souls desperately need," Veazey said. "Most of us are not aware how spiritually famished we are, because of the nature and fast pace of our lives. We easily become insolated and distracted from the spiritual dimensions and forward possibilities of the spirit in our lives. If we could just help ourselves and others pause long enough, in sacred spaces like this, our souls will awaken and stir and seek a deeper spiritual connection and relationship with God."
Veasy said the story of the Kirtland Temple continues to tell the church that, “we need to stop, and pay more attention to our spiritual lives as individuals and as a faith community.”
He said, genuine discipleship and effective ministry comes out of the over flow of a spiritual life that is attuned to the spirit of the living God. “That’s where the energy and vision for mission comes from. Thats when ministry and mission is no longer a task, it’s a joy because it’s coming out of the overflow of the spirit with our lives.”
Veazey then shared how a number of the church’s functions today have their roots at the Kirtland Temple. He cited the many educational opportunities that were offered in the early days of the temple. The churches first overseas missionaries were sent from the temple.
“I yearn for the church today to regain a since of mission and calling that will inspire such commitment and generous giving. So much of our discipleship is so carefully calculated and compartmentalized. The Community of Christ needs to recover a since of the gospel, that establishes the gospel in our lives as the one cause that is greater than life it’s self,” Veazey said. “This is how the story of the Kirtland Temple continues to shape the life of the church today.”
In closing Veazey commented, “in response to the history and spirit of this place, let us go forth into a world of great need to tell the story of jesus and his love as we have come to know it as a people of faith. Let our witness be fueled by the power of gods spirit which burns in our hearts and souls."
Throughout the service a number of the same functions were performed, such as the same songs be sung.
